Silver Springs murder suspect: 'I’m an innocent man'

Charles Willoughby is accused of murdering Mohammad H. Barak on July 6.

Austin L. Miller @almillerosb

OCALA — A Silver Springs man already in custody on unrelated charges was re-arrested and charged Wednesday with shooting a man to death last month.

In July, Mohammad H. Barak, 41, known as “Wheels,” was found dead inside a home in the 10400 block of Southwest 45th Avenue in the neighborhood known as Sun Valley. Detectives named Charles James Willoughby, 32, as a suspect and, on Wednesday, charged him with the homicide.

“I want to thank Detective Bradley Bartlett, the men and women of the Major Crimes Unit and prosecutors at the State Attorney’s Office for their hard work and countless hours spent investigating this case,” said Lt. Claude McQuaig, a Major Crimes Unit supervisor.

Bartlett said that on July 6, deputies were dispatched to a home in reference to a suspicious death. When they arrived, they found Barak dead with two gunshot wounds to his body. An autopsy later revealed that Barak was shot in the back of the head and back.

From his investigation, Bartlett learned that two safes had been stolen from the home. One of the safes, owned by the victim, was taken from Barak’s bathroom. The detective was told that the victim kept large amounts of cash and drugs in the safe, according to officials.

Detectives obtained a search warrant and found multiple surveillance cameras inside and outside the house. Officials said video footage showed Willoughby leaving the home and going to his car, where he opened the passenger’s side door. The video showed him wearing sandals, a red shirt and shorts. A few minutes later, Willoughby placed a safe in the vehicle, according to officials.

He left and returned to the home. While going back and forth into the home, Willoughby was seen carrying two safes, officials reported. They said the safes were placed in the car, a black 1997 Pontiac. Detectives said he spent a little more than an hour going in and out of the home.

While processing the crime scene, sheriff’s officials reportedly found sandals under the victim’s body that were similar to what Willoughby was seen on tape wearing. Officials believe the footwear was either removed or lost while Willoughby was dragging Barak’s body across the bedroom floor.

After the murder, deputies searched for Willoughby and the safes. They found Willoughby’s car in the 1400 block of Northeast 31st Street in Ocala. It was hidden in tall foliage and covered in brush, officials said.

While searching for Willoughby, detectives were told that he purchased new clothing and cellphones and he was frequently moving around. Detectives were able to recover some of the stolen items from the home.

On Wednesday, Willoughby spoke to the Star-Banner and maintained his innocence.

“I’m an innocent man. I did not kill that man,” a handcuffed Willoughby said from the Marion County Jail, where he has been since July 14 on grand theft and petit theft charges.

Willoughby said he lived at the victim’s home off and on for a couple of weeks. He called Barak his brother-in-law, adding that Barak was in a wheelchair, hence the name Wheels.

As for the murder charge, Willoughby said detectives are relying on “hearsay” and there is no evidence connecting him to the crime. Willoughby said there was nothing in the safe. He declined to answer any more questions about the safe.

“I don’t steal. That man gave me anything I wanted so I’ve no reason to take anything from that man,” he said.

Willoughby said he was in Daytona at a friend’s home when he was arrested on unrelated charges on July 14. Jail records show he was charged with grand theft and petit theft. On Aug. 3, he was charged with trafficking heroin and meth. State records show he has served time in prison for several offenses, including burglary, assault and possession of a control substance. He has been out of jail since March 2013 before his arrest in July.

“I was going to turn myself in because I’m innocent,” he said from jail Wednesday. “I’m trying to give back to the community and to help children.”